Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2009, published 99th ILC session (2010)

Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98) - Burkina Faso (Ratification: 1962)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It must therefore repeat its previous observation, which read as follows:

Article 4 of the Convention. Promotion of collective bargaining. The Committee hopes that the Government will soon be able to indicate the approximate number of workers covered by these agreements, and requests it to give an account of all measures to promote collective bargaining (including in the bakery, road transport and media sectors, in relation to which the Committee has requested information in its previous comments), taken in particular by the Directorate of Labour Relations and the Promotion of Social Dialogue.

Collective bargaining in the public sector. With regard to the public service advisory bodies, including the Tripartite Public Service Advisory Council, which is competent with regard to dialogue (section 51 of Act No. 013/98/AN of 13 April 1998 on the public service), the Committee notes the indication that the employees have not yet appointed their representatives and requests the Government to provide information on any developments in this regard.

The Committee previously asked the Government to specify the categories of public servants not engaged in the administration of the State who enjoy the right to collective bargaining. The Committee recalls that the Convention applies to all public servants not engaged in the administration of the State and requests the Government to take the necessary measures to guarantee the right to collective bargaining on conditions of employment between their trade union organizations and the employers.

The Committee hopes that the Government will make every effort to take the necessary measures in the very near future.

The Committee notes the communication of 26 August 2009 by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), reporting that public servants affiliated to the National Union of Treasury Employees (SATB) and the Union of Employees of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SAMAE) were transferred for having taken part in protest action in May 2007, and that the General Secretary of the General Confederation of Workers of Burkina Faso (CGT–B) was arrested on 15 December 2008 following a commemorative march, and questioned by the national gendarmerie. The Committee requests the Government to send comments in response to the ITUC’s allegations of acts of anti-union discrimination.